Explaining Increase of Poppy Cultivation and Illicit Drugs in Southern Afghanistan (1989-2020)

Abstract

Poppy cultivation and production of illicit drugs have not only been rooted in Afghanistan’s politics and everyday life for decades, but it has also been a controversial predicament for the region and the international community for a long time. The purpose of this study is to dig into the correlation between the increase in production of opium and illicit drugs and the increase in southern rural areas of Afghanistan where the Taliban control a vast territory. This thesis examines the various characteristics of southern rural Afghanistan’s social institutions, system of governance and whether they contribute to the increasing poppy cultivation and opium production. The principal focus is on the complexities of the southern rural provinces’ social make up in respect to opium production and drag trade where the Taliban continue to hold a tight grip.